The streets of Northport were alive Sunday with a vibrant celebration of art and music, with 30 artists and 10 musical acts taking center stage as part of Northport ArtWalk, a collaboration between The Northport Arts Coalition and the Northport Historical Society.

Whether visitors stopped to enjoy the big-band sounds of the Northport Community Jazz Orchestra in front of Heartichoke, gathered to hear the trio Wild Ginger by Wilkes Gallery, or stepped inside Firefly Artists to be entertained by the stunningly gifted 16-year-old singer/guitar player Dori-Jo Gutierrez, of Northport, one would only walk a few feet before being delighted by yet another musical sound.

Photographer and Northport resident, Amy Connor, 55, was a first-time exhibitor. Honing her craft seriously for the past five years, this past summer she sold her first works and felt brave enough to exhibit.

“I started out as a dancer many years ago then I became a mom and lost the ability to express myself creatively,” Connor said. After taking a course at a local mothers center Connor said she found that ability again, through photography.

Singer/guitar player Dori-Jo Gutierrez, 16, of Northport, performed at ArtWalk Northport this weekend. Long Islander News photo/Linda Delmonico Prussen

Heather Johnson, director of the historical society, attributed much of the event’s success to the hospitality local businesses and their willingness to give space to artists and musicians.

“Pretty much everyone I asked to participate said yes,” Johnson said, adding, “The collaborative effort is alive and well here. It warms your heart.” And the popularity for the residents? “It’s art, it’s music and it’s free!” Johnson said.

Painter and chiropractor, Steve Macagnone, 52, of East Northport, said while he has painted his entire life, he’s been selling his work for the past four years. On display at Firefly Artists were Macagnone’s breathtaking landscapes.

Artist Rosemary Romeo, 53, of Huntington, showed work in a number of wearable mediums. One interesting expression of her work was as she called it, “Reverse process free-hand color removal.” This process involved her creating art on T-shirts by using various products depending on the fabric to remove color. “You don’t always know what colors are going to come out when you do it” she said, adding, “It’s really exciting.”

Noticing many of the artists, though creative throughout their lives, had begun to show and sell their work in their 50s Romeo, who formerly worked in accounting said, “We’re awakened again. It’s our time. It’s our season.”